Hot-air furnace.



No. 838,888. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.

T. G; NEAL.

HOT AIR PURNAUB.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 7, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1v THE mmms PETERS cc, WASHINGTON, u. c.

PATENTED DEC 18, 1906.

T. G. NEAL.

HOT AIR FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 838,888. PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906. T. G. NEAL.

' HOT AIR FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. 1905.

' 6 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

2V g z THOMAS Gr. NEAL, OF WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOT-AIR FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

Application filed November 7, 1905. Serial No. 286.272.

To (tZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. NEAL, tinsmith, a citizen of the United States, residing at W arren, in the county of lVarren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hot-Air Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hot-air furnaces adapted especially for domestic uses and capable of successfully employing various kinds of combustibles. In the form of furnace illustrated and hereinafter particularly described I employ gas as the combustible agent, and this gas may be either natural or artificial.

A furnace involving my invention has a large heating-surface and maximum fluespace, by virtue of which certain advantageous results, as will hereinafter be apparent, are attendant.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification I illustrate a simple form of embodiment of my invention, which I will set forth in detail, to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, in the following description, the novelty of the invention being included in the claims succeeding said description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a furnace including my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, the section being on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View in perspective of a plate. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a modification hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a boxing. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of a modified form of radiators.

Like reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The outer casing of the furnaceis denoted by 2 and, as is common in this art, is of double-wall construction. In the casing is a drum, as 3, the drum being supported by the wall 4 of the fire-pot or combustion-chamber. The fire-pot wall 4 and the outer casing2 may be sustained upon brickwork or some other suitable foundation in such way as to permit atmospheric air to enter and rise through the space between the said wall 4 and casing 2, the atmospheric or cold air being heated on its ascent and being carried from the inte rior of the casing by means of fines. (Not shown.)

Surrounding the drum 3, separated therefrom, from each other, and from the inner surface of the casing 2, are radiators, as 5 and 6, the radiator 5 belng within the companion radiator. The drum 3 is shown as provided with brackets, as 7, (see Fig. 4-,) extending radially therefrom and upon which the radiators rest. I may employ any number of radiators. As a matter of fact I may employ but one. I have illustrated, however, two of them. Braces are shown at 8 fitting against the tops and bottoms of the radiators, the braces being of sheet metal or some suitable material to clamp at their terminal ends the tops and bottoms of the'two radiators to hold the latter separated and in proper relation with each other. Connecting the upper and lower braces are tie-bolts,

Connecting the radiators between their tops is a reheating-chamber, (denoted in a general way by 10.) This reheatingchamber extends from the inner wall of the inner radiator to the inner wall of the outer radiator and crosses the drum 3. It is represented as consisting of a collar 11, tube 12, and collars 13, 14, and 15, the collars 1.1 and 15, which form the terminals'of the said reheating-chamber v10, being bolted to in' wardly-bellied plates, as .16, of duplicate construction and forming parts of the radiators 5 and 6. The plates 16 form, as will be understood, segments or parts of the two radiators and where they are united to the? bodies of the two radiators are marginally flanged to receive suitable fasteners, such as rivets or bolts. The collar 11 is bolted, riveted, or otherwise suitably fastened to the plate 16, on the left in Fig. Land to the drum while the collar 13 is riveted to said drum in a position diametrically opposite the collar 11 and receives one end of the tube 12, the opposite end of said tube fitting in the collar 11. Surrounding the collar 13 is the collar 14;, and the latter in turn is surrounded by the collar 15, bolted to the plate 16, on the right in Fig. 1. The several collars andtube therefore present, in effect, a continuous IIO - reheat the air therein.

point diametrically opposite collar 11, for

which purpose said inner radiator has a hole closed by a collar, as 17, surrounding but free of the reheating-chamber. The collar 17 fits around the two collars 14 and 15. The collar 17, as will be understood, connects the two walls of the inner radiator, and

it is held in place in such a way as to prevent the hot air entering the hot-air space between the radiators and between the inner radiator and drum 3 Connecting the drum 3 and the inner radiator 5 is a collar or flue 18, shown as consisting' of two substantially similar sections suitably fastened to each other and to the drum and inner radiator near the tops of said two last-mentioned parts. When I say that the collar-sections are suitably connected with each other and with the drum and radiator 5, I mean to indicate that the connections are air-tight. The collar or flue 18 is intended for the passage of the smoke and products of combustion which rise from the burning fuel in the fire-pot up into the drum 3, passing from the latter into and through the collar 18 to the inner radiator 5. Extending downward from the top of the inner radiator 5 at opposite sides of the smoke-inlet therein or at opposite sides of the delivery end of the flue or collar 18 are partitions, as 19, which direct the hot gases in a downward direction through theinner radiator.

I will hereinafter describe the means of communication between the inner and outer radiators for the products of combustion. When the products of combustion pass from the inner radiator 5 to the outer radiator 6, they circulate through the latter and travel toward theoutlet pipe or flue 20, which is represented as consisting of a collar fastened to the said outer radiator near its top and upon the outer wall thereof. The outlet pipe or' flue 20 projects from the outer radi ator through the wall 2 of the furnace. The wall 2 is closed by a top or cap, as 21, from which hot-air flues, as 22, lead. Resting on the top of the drum 3 is a water-pan 23, which may be supplied with water by a pipe 24, extending from a water-feed box, as 25, mounted upon a suitable bracket exterior of the furnace.

At opposite sides of the smoke pipe or flue the drum 3.

20 and extending downwardly from the top of the outer radiator 6 interiorly thereof are partitions 26, duplicates of the partitions 19, hereinbefore described. None of the partitions extend the entire depth of the interior of the two radiators, they being made long enough to insure a downward movement of the air-currents while in the two radiators.

A flange is shown at 27. This flange rests on the upper edge of and constitutes a top or hood for the wall 4 and in the present case extends upward and inward from and at a slight angle to said wall, the twoparts being united in any suitable way and the flange being connected with the lower section 28 of This flange constitutes, as will be obvious, a top or hood for the wall 4 and also directly sustains said drum.

Surrounding the drum and combustionchamber is a second reheating-chamber (denoted in a general way by 29) and of substantially annular form. This annular chamber 29 connects the bases ofthe inner and outer radiators 5 and 6 at diametrically opposite points. Through this chamber the hot gases are admitted from the lower end of the inner radiator to the lower end of the outer radiator and are heated by radiation from the drum and fire-box or combustioncham ber, respectively. Extending upward from the top 27 of the combustion-chamber is an annular flange 30, to which is bolted in some air-tight manner the lower edge of an annular plate 31. The inner portion of this annular plate or ring 31 is extended through the two sections of the drum 3 and is provided with a circular flange 32, bolted or riveted to the drum. The top 27, lower section 28 of the drum, flange 30, and annular plate 31 present collectively a second reheatingchamber, as 29, to which I have previously referred. The presence of the plate 16 upon the two radiators 5 and 6 provides widened or enlarged spaces in the lower portions of I the two radiators, and into these widened spaces or portions the opposite ends of the reheating-chamber 10 open. To the bottoms of the radiators 5 and 6 and fastened to the lower ends of the plates 16 are necks 33, which rise from the annular plate or ring 31, the junction between the necks and plates being air-tight or closed ones. As the necks 33 are fastened to the lower edge of the two plates 16, the two radiators 5 and 6 are put into communication with the reheatingchamber 29. The annular chamber 29 at diametrically opposite points is enlarged or widened, the enlarged portions of the chamber being at the place where the hot products respectively leave and enter the same.

I form in the reheating-chamber 10 upper and lower series of perforations, as 341 and 35, respectively, the upper perforations being formed in a row substantially in the top of the reheating-chamber within the drum 3 and the lower perforations being formed approximately in the bottom of the said reheating-chamber in said drum. The perforations in the bottom of the reheating-chamber are to admit hot gases into said chamber to reheat the cooler gases passing through the said reheating-chamber from the inner radiator toward the outer radiator, and the perforations in the top of the said reheating-chamber 10 are to permit part of the hot gases that have passed around the inner radiator and become cool to reenter the drum 3 directly over the fire and become reheated to a high degree before again entering the inner radiator. In this way a large volume of highly-heated gases is maintained in the drum and radiators with a small consumption of gas. It will be remembered that the plates 16 have been described as inwardly bellied. By this construction the opposite ends of the reheating-chamber 10 are enlarged to cause the hot air therein to expand, and thereby prevent the burning gases from smothering. The perforations take in part of the volume of highly-heated gases that would otherwise pass into the dome and reheat the cooler gases in the chamber before they pass into the outer radiator. I illustrate the lower or second reheating-chamber 29 as having similar perforations which perform a like office, they being designated, respectively, by 36 and 37. The reason why the gases pass out through the perforations in the tops of the two reheating-chambers is that the hot gases rising to said tops with the draft draw the gases into the drum.

I provide two reheating-chambers to get the largest reheating-surface and the largest flue area for the products of combustion, the latter being particularly advantageous when there is a low fire, for in this way the prodnets of combustion can enter the chambers at a high tem erature, and thus avoid condensation in t e chamber, which is an objection ordinarily attending gas-furnaces.

I may, as represented in Fig. 6, make the radiators 5 and 6 in sections, so that they can bereadily passed through small openings in separated condition and afterward set u in a cellar or other compartment. Each radiator is represented as consisting of two similar sections abutting against each other and having along their abutting edges angular flanges, as 40, overlapped by flanges or plates, as 41, bolted or otherwise suitably.

connected together, cement being interposed between the parts to insure close joints.

In the lower part of the furnace is a boxing, which I will denote in a general way by 42, from the body of which rises a neck, as 43. A gas-supply pipe is shown at 44, having a number of laterals or branches, as 45, extending entirely through the body or lower portion of the boxing and connected withthe burner 46 to supply gas thereto. The airadmission or damper openings 46 in the front side of the box are regulated by dampers, as 47, slidable on said branches. The rear wall of the boxing, through which the said branches extend, is open at the top and bottom for the passage of hot air into the combustion-chamber. In this way the air is tempered or heated before reaching the combustion-chamber, the air being tempered or heated while in the interior or lower section or body of the boxing. The neck or upper part of the boxing has a door closing a hand-hole and of double or air-space form. Air enters the opening in the bottom of the door when closed, rises through it, and flows into the combustion-chamber through the space 48 in the top of the boxing. ing is set in an air-tight manner in the casing 2 and wall 4 and prevents burnt gases from entering the hot-air spaces, as in case burnt gases should be in said spaces they would enter the apartment of a building through the hot-air flues.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. 'A furnace comprising a heating-drum radiators surrounding the drum, and. a reheating-chamber connecting the radiators and extending across the interior of the drum.

2. A furnace comprising a heating-drum, a fire-pot upon which the drum is mounted, the two being in communication, radiators surrounding the drum, and a reheatingchamber connecting the radiators and ex tending across the interior of the drum, said reheating-chamber having perforations to admit hot gases from the fire-pot thereinto.

3. A furnace comprising a heating-drum, radiators surrounding the drum and two reheating-chambers connecting the radiators, one reheating-chamber extending across the drum interiorly thereof and the other surrounding the drum.

4. A furnace comprising a heating-drum, radiators surrounding the drum, a reheatingchamber connecting the radiators at diametrically opposite points and extending across the interior of the drum, a fire-p ot upon which the drum is mounted, and a reheating-chamber surrounding the fire-pot and connecting the bottoms of the radiators at diametrically opposite points, both reheating-chambers having perforations to receive the products of combustion from the fire-pot.

5. A furnace comprising a fire-pot, a heating-drum mounted upon the fire-pot, a radiator surrounding the heating-drum, a collar connecting the radiator and heating-drum near the tops thereof to cause the products of combustion rising into the drum to enter the radiator by way of said collar, a second radiator surrounding the first radiator and provided near its top with an outlet for the prodnets of combustion, and a-reheating-chamber The boxfirst radiator at opposite sides of the said col-- lar to direct the products of combustion downward, and similar partitions at opposite sides of the said outlet.

7. A furnace comprising a fire-pot, a heat: ing-drum mounted upon the fire-pot, radir ators surrounding the drum, a reheating chamber connecting the radiators and 6X," tending across the drum, a second reheating chamber connecting the radiators and sur: rounding the drum, each reheating-chamber being perforated to admit hot gases from the fire-pot, strips overlying the tops and bottoms of the radiators, and bolts, provided with nuts, connecting the respective strips.

8. A furnace comprising a heating-drum, radiators surrounding the drum, and a reheating-chamber connecting the radiators, extending across the interior of the drum and having upper and lower series of perforations opening into the drum.

9. A furnace comprising a heating-drum, radiators surrounding the drum, and two reheating-chambers connecting the radiators at vertically-separated points, the upper chamber extending across the interior of the drum and the lower chamber surrounding the drum, and each reheating-chamber having upper and lower series of perforations opening into said interior.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS G. NEAL.

Witnesses:

CURTIs N. VSIIAWYKEY. M. D. KELLOGG. 

